Fuschsia Dunlop'S Ma Po Tofu

Name: Fuschsia Dunlop'S Ma Po Tofu
Ingredients: 1 pound firm tofu cut into cubes; peanut oil; 6 ounces ground pork; 2 garlic cloves minced; 2 leeks thinly sliced, sans green bits; 2.5 tablespoons chili bean paste; 1 tablespoon fermented black beans; 2 teaspoons Szechuan whole peppers, pounded into coarse powder or ground into finer powder; 1 cup chicken stock; 2 teaspoons white sugar; 2 teaspoons light soy sauce; 1 tablespoon corn starch dissolved in some water; 1 scallion diced; salt to taste

14 ingredients

7 steps

Ingredients

1 pound firm tofu cut into cubes
peanut oil
6 ounces ground pork
2 garlic cloves minced
2 leeks thinly sliced, sans green bits
2.5 tablespoons chili bean paste
1 tablespoon fermented black beans
2 teaspoons Szechuan whole peppers, pounded into coarse powder or ground into finer powder
1 cup chicken stock
2 teaspoons white sugar
2 teaspoons light soy sauce
1 tablespoon corn starch dissolved in some water
1 scallion diced
salt to taste

Directions

1

Soak the cubes of tofu in some salted hot water.
2

While the tofu soaks, pour the oil into a deep skillet or wok over high heat. Stir fry the pork. Turn the heat down a bit and throw in the garlic and leeks. When it starts to smell delicious, add in the chili bean paste, black beans, and Sichuan pepper. Stir the mixture some, and let the flavors meld.
3

Pour in the stock.
4

Drain the tofu and dump that in ... but don't stir! You'll break up the beautiful cubes. Use the back of your ladle to move the pieces around gently.
5

Add the sugar, soy sauce, and salt (if needed). Let the mixture simmer some more (~5 mins).
6

Now put in the cornstarch mixture, but bit by bit. You may not need all of it. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of your ladle.
7

Serve while its still hot, fresh off the burners, with some white rice, garnished with scallions and a bit more Szechuan pepper powder...if you dare.